Package having a flexible wall and containing a liquid

ABSTRACT

A package has a flexible wall and contains liquid products. A perforator (6) for making a hole in the flexible wall (3) is provided and does not make a hole in said wall when an inner and an outer coupling device (4, 5) are interconnected but makes a hole (7) in the flexible wall (3) after the interconnection of the inner and outer coupling devices (4, 5).

The present invention relates to a package having a flexible wall andadapted for liquid products, preferably foodstuff in liquid form,whereby an inner coupling device is provided within unopened portions ofthe flexible wall, whereby the inner coupling device and an outercoupling device are connectable to each other and whereby the outercoupling device includes a perforation means for making a hole in saidunopened portions of the flexible wall such that the liquid product canbe discharged from the package through said hole. The invention alsorelates to a method for manufacturing said package and a couplingtherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,793 relates to a package of flexible wall materialand an inner as well as an outer coupling device. At this package,perforation of the flexible wall is carried through simultaneously withthe interconnection of the coupling devices. This normally functionswell, but leakage may occur at certain flexible wall materials duringthe connection/perforating step.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention has been to provide a package withimproved opening possibilities. This is arrived at by providing thepackage according to the invention with the characterizing features ofsubsequent claim 1.

The invention also includes a method for manufacturing said package anda coupling for said package.

Since no holes are made in the flexible wall of the package when theouter and inner coupling devices are connected to each other, it is seento that no portions of the content of the package can flow or run out ofthe package. First when this liquid tight coupling has been established,perforation of the flexible wall of the package may occur in a simpleand effective manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of members of the package according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the members of FIG. 1, whereby the packageis unopened;

FIG. 3 is a section through the members of FIG. 1, whereby the packageis opened; and

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate various embodiments of penetrating elements formingpart of the package of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, there is shown a package 1 for liquid products 2,preferably foodstuff in liquid form such as beverages of low viscosityand more viscous foodstuff such as ketchup, mustard and sauces. Thepackage 1 has flexible walls 3 of plastic material, i.e. it is ofplastic bag type. Inside the package 1 there is provided an innercoupling device 4 to which an outer coupling device 5 can be connectedthrough the flexible wall 3.

The outer coupling device 5 has a perforation means 6 for making a hole7 in the flexible wall 3 so that the product 2 can be removed ordischarged from the package 1 through the inner coupling device 4, saidhole 7 and the outer coupling device 5.

The perforation means 6 is provided not to make the hole 7 in theflexible wall 3 when said inner and outer coupling devices 4, 5 areinterconnected, but may be used for making said hole 7 during aperforating step after said interconnection.

The inner coupling device 4 may include an inner coupling member 8 inthe form of a first annular member 8a with an opening 9. This firstannular member 8a may be located at or next to the inner side of theflexible wall 3 and the inner coupling device 4 may also include asecond annular member 8b and said annular members 8a, 8b may beconnected to two or more connection members 11 with intermediateopenings 12.

The outer coupling device 5 includes or consists of an outer couplingmember 13 which may be inserted in a connecting direction KR into theopening 9 of the inner coupling member 8 while it simultaneously foldsunopened portions 14 of the flexible wall 3 into the opening 9 withoutopening said portions. To accomplish this, the flexible wall 3 may havesuch elasticity that it can be extended or streched during said foldingof the portions 14 into the opening 9 without thereby breaking.

The outer coupling member 13 has a preferably annular snap-in portion 15which protrudes in radial direction relative to a centre line CL whichruns in axial direction through the outer coupling member 13. The outercoupling member 13 also includes a support portion 16 which alsoprotrudes in said radial direction relative to the centre line CL of theconnecting direction KR.

The outer coupling member 13 is connected to the inner coupling member 8by insertion thereof into the opening 9 while folding in said portions14 of the flexible wall 3 until the snap-in portion 15 snaps past thefirst annular member 8a of the inner coupling member 8 and until thesupport portion 16 through portions of the flexible wall 3 is supportedby the outer side of said first annular member 8a. Hereby, the snap-inportion 15 and support portion 16 prevent the outer coupling member 13from moving in said axial direction relative to the inner couplingmember 8, said portions however permitting said outer coupling member 13to pivot or rotate about the centre line CL relative to the innercoupling member 8.

The perforation means 6 protrudes outwards from a radially directed endedge 17 of the outer coupling member 13 in axial direction relative tosaid centre line CL and is designed to shape the folded-in portions 14of the flexible wall 3 to a pocket 18 during insertion of the outercoupling member 13 into the opening 9 without making a hole in saidpocket 18. This pocket 18 protrudes axially relative to radiallydirected and along the radial end edge 17 extending portions 19 of thefolded-in portions 14 of the flexible wall 3.

When the outer coupling member 13 is pivoted or rotated about the centreline CL relative to the inner coupling member 8, either in one directionor the opposite direction, the perforating means 6 initially cuts up theside of said pocket 18 and then a hole 7 in the radially directedportions 19 of the flexible wall 3 adjacent the pocket 18.

In order to facilitate said perforation, the perforation means 6 mayhave at least one cutting edge 20 and/or 21 (see FIG. 4) and/or cuttingpoint 22 and/or 23 (see FIG. 5), which is/are directed towards the sideof the pocket 18.

There may also be more than one perforating means 6 (see FIG. 6) whichmay be located beside each other in a curve along peripheral portions ofthe end edge 17.

To accomplish discharge of the product 2 from the package 1 when saidhole 7 has been made, the outer coupling member 13 may have athrough-flow passage 24 and a connecting portion 25 for a hose 26 sothat said product 2 can be discharged from the package 1 through thehole 7 and the through-flow passage 24.

In order to facilitate retention and rotation of the outer couplingdevice 5 when it is connected to and rotated relative to the innercoupling device 4, the outer coupling device 5 may include one or moreradially directed flanges 27.

The inner coupling device 4 may be fixedly attached to the inner side ofthe flexible wall 3 or be retained at said inner side of the flexiblewall 3 by means of the outer coupling device 5. In said latter case, thecoupling devices 4, 5 thus together define a clamp which clamps them tothe flexible wall 3, whereby there is no need to attach the innercoupling device 4 to the flexible wall 3 by other means.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but mayvary within the scope of the following claims. As alternatives which arenot illustrated, it can be mentioned that the coupling members 8, 3 ofthe coupling devices 4, 5 can be designed in other ways as can theperforation means 6.

What is claimed is:
 1. Package having a flexible wall and adapted forliquid products (2), preferably foodstuff in liquid form,whereby aninner coupling device (4) is provided within unopened portions (14) ofthe flexible wall (3), whereby the inner coupling device (4) and anouter coupling device (5) are connectable to each other, and whereby theouter coupling device (5) includes a perforation means (6) forpenetrating said unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) suchthat the liquid product (2) can be discharged from the package(1),characterized in that the outer and inner coupling device (5, 4) areinterconnectable with the unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall(3) lying unopened between these coupling devices (5, 4), and that theperforation means (6) of the outer coupling device (5) is provided topenetrate said unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) aftersaid inter connection of the outer and inner coupling devices (5, 4). 2.Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer and innercoupling devices (5, 4) are pivotally or rotatably connected to eachother and that the perforation means (6) of the outer coupling device(5) penetrates said unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) bypivoting or rotating the outer coupling device (5) relative to the innercoupling device (4) after interconnection of said coupling devices (5,4).
 3. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the innercoupling device (4) includes an inner coupling member (8) having anopening (9), that the outer coupling device (5) includes an outercoupling member (13) which is insertable into said opening (9) and whichduring said insertion into the opening (9) folds portions (14) of theflexible wall (3) into the opening (9) without opening said portions(14), whereby the outer coupling member (13) is connectable to the innercoupling member (8) through the portions (14) of said flexible wall (3)folded into the opening (9), that the outer coupling member (13) has asnap-in portion (15) protruding in radial direction relative to an axialconnecting direction (KR), whereby said snap-in portion (15) can besnapped past the inner coupling member (8) when the outer couplingmember (13) is moved in said axial connecting direction (KR) into theinner coupling member (8) to a coupling position (KL), and that theouter coupling member (13) has a supporting portion (16) which protrudesin said radial direction and which together with the snap-in portion(15) and folded-in portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) holds theouter coupling member (13) in said connecting position (KL) relative tothe inner coupling member (8) such that said outer coupling member (13)is pivotable or rotatable relative to said inner coupling member (8) formaking a hole (7) in the flexible wall (3).
 4. Package according toclaim 3, characterized in that the inner coupling member (8) of theinner coupling device (4) includes a first annular member (8a) and thatthe inner coupling device (4) further includes a second annular member(8b) and connection members (11) which connect said annular members (8a,8b) to each other, whereby openings (12) are provided between theconnection members (11).
 5. Package according to claim 1, characterizedin that the perforation means (6) protrudes in an axial direction froman end edge (17) of the outer coupling device (5), that the perforationmeans (6), when the outer coupling device (5) is moved in an axialconnecting direction (KR) for connection to the inner coupling device(4), forms folded-in portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) to a pocket(18) without making a hole in said folded-in portions (14), whereby saidpocket (18) protrudes in an axial direction relative to radiallydirected, along a radial end edge (17) of the outer coupling device (5)extending portions (19) of the folded-in portions (14) of the flexiblewall (3), and that, when the outer coupling device (5) is pivoted orrotated relative to the inner coupling device (4), the perforation means(6) is provided to make a hole (7) in those portions of the flexiblewall (3) which define a side of said pocket (18) and preferably also inthe radially along the radial end edge (17) beside said pocket (18)extending portions (19) of the flexible wall (3).
 6. Package accordingto claim 5, characterized in that the perforation means (6) includes atleast one cutting edge (20 and/or 21) and/or cutting point (22 and/or23) which is directed towards the side of said pocket (18) and that saidcutting edge (20 and/or 21) and/or cutting point (22 and/or 23) isprovided to cut a hole (7) in one side of said pocket (18) and in theportions (19) of the flexible wall (3) extending radially beside saidpocket (18).
 7. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that theflexible wall (3) has such elasticity that inwardly foldable portions(14) thereof without breaking can be folded by the outer coupling device(5) into an opening (9) in the inner coupling device (4) when thesecoupling devices (4, 5) are interconnected.
 8. Package according toclaim 1, characterized in that the outer coupling device (5) isdelivered connected to the inner coupling device (4) through unopenedportions of the flexible wall (3) so that holes (7) can be made in theflexible wall (3), after delivery, by pivoting or rotating the outercoupling device (5) relative to the inner coupling device (4). 9.Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer couplingdevice (5) retains the inner coupling device (4) at the flexible wall(3) when the coupling devices (4, 5) are interconnected.
 10. Packageaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the inner coupling device(4) includes a first annular member (8a) through which it is mounted onthe inner side of the flexible wall (3).
 11. Coupling for packageshaving a flexible wall and adapted for liquid products (2), preferablyfoodstuff in liquid form,whereby an inner coupling device (4) isprovided within unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall (3), wherebythe inner coupling device (4) and an outer coupling device (5) areconnectable to each other, and whereby the outer coupling device (5)includes a perforation means (6) for penetrating said unopened portions(14) of the flexible wall (3) such that the liquid product (2) can bedischarged from the package (1) through a hole (7) formed by saidpenetration,characterized in that the outer and inner coupling device(5, 4) are interconnectable with the unopened portions (14) of theflexible wall (3) lying unopened between these coupling devices (5, 4),and that the perforation means (6) of the outer coupling device (5) isprovided to penetrate said unopened portions (14) of the flexible wall(3) after said interconnection of the outer and inner coupling devices(5, 4).
 12. Coupling according to claim 11, characterized in that theouter and inner coupling devices (5, 4) are pivotally or rotatablyconnected to each other and that the perforation means (6) of the outercoupling device (5) penetrates said unopened portions (14) of theflexible wall (3) by pivoting or rotating the outer coupling device (5)relative to the inner coupling device (4) after interconnection of saidcoupling devices (5, 4).
 13. Coupling according to claim 12,characterized in that the inner coupling device (4) includes an innercoupling member (8) having an opening (9), that the outer couplingdevice (5) includes an outer coupling member (13) which is insertableinto said opening (9) and which during said insertion into the opening(9) folds portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) into the opening (9)without opening said portions (14), whereby the outer coupling member(13) is connectable to the inner coupling member (8) through theportions (14) of said flexible wall (3) folded into the opening (9),that the outer coupling member (13) has a snap-in portion (15)protruding in radial direction relative to an axial connecting direction(KR), whereby said snap-in portion (15) can be snapped past the innercoupling member (8) when the outer coupling member (13) is moved in saidaxial connecting direction (KR) into the inner coupling member (8) to acoupling position (KL), and that the outer coupling member (13) has asupporting portion (16) which protrudes in said radial direction andwhich together with the snap-in portion (15) and folded-in portions (14)of the flexible wall (3) holds the outer coupling member (13) in saidconnecting position (KL) relative to the inner coupling member (8) suchthat said outer coupling member (13) is pivotable or rotatable relativeto said inner coupling member (8) for making a hole (7) in the flexiblewall (3).
 14. Coupling according to claim 11, characterized in that theperforation means (6) protrudes in an axial direction from an end edge(17) of the outer coupling device (5), that the perforation means (6),when the outer coupling device (5) is moved in an axial connectingdirection (KR) for connection to the inner coupling device (4), formsfolded-in portions (14) of the flexible wall (3) to a pocket (18)without making a hole in said folded-in portions (14), whereby saidpocket (18) protrudes in an axial direction relative to radiallydirected, along a radial end edge (17) of the outer coupling device (5)extending portions (19) of the folded-in portions (14) of the flexiblewall (3), and that, when the outer coupling device (5) is pivoted orrotated relative to the inner coupling device (4), the perforation means(6) is provided to make a hole (7) in those portions of the flexiblewall (3) which define a side of said pocket (18) and preferably also inthe radially along the radial end edge (17) extending portions (19) ofthe flexible wall (3).